Deepak Dobriyal Interview: “I Believe God Has Been Kind To Me & I Feel I’m Lucky”

Deepak Dobriyal is an actor who manages to deliver a standout performance even with limited screen time. Remembered for notable performances in such box-office hits as Tanu Weds Manu (2011), Dabangg 2 (2012), Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), Deepak Dobriyal can be currently seen in Angrezi Medium (2020).

Deepak Dobriyal was also a part of Hindi Medium (2017), a predecessor to Angrezi Medium. Ahead of the release of the film, which also stars Irrfan Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Radhika Madan, STARBIZ sat down with Deepak Dobriyal for a candid conversation. Here are the excerpts from an interview with the immensely talented actor.

You have worked in Hindi Medium and your role received a lot of appreciation from the audiences. Though your character in Angrezi Medium is almost the same, what is the difference between the two?

Hindi Medium was a bit serious and this movie is a bit fun. You will get to see some fun in the movie. The only thing common between the two is education. The journey of a girl for education and how her parent has to go beyond the odds. So, education is the common element between the two films.

When you were doing Hindi Medium, did you expect it to become such a big hit that it will have a sequel to it?

I didn’t know about it earlier. First, I had only thought that it is fun and gradually when the film was made and when we saw its premiere, I felt that this will do good and it has a gripping element. There was a screening for teachers and I was sitting among them, I saw them crying. And one of them caught me seeing them, I felt embarrassed and I went away from there. In this movie there is a lot of fun and it’s a journey. You will get to see Jaipur, London and how two villagers are a complete misfit over there, and the kind of things that happen to them is something one must watch. Angrezi Medium followed by the same passion. How a father wants to get his daughter enrolled in a college in London. But the things that they have to endure has been shown with a fun element in it.

We simply loved the camaraderie between you and Irrfan Khan. How does it feel to work with him again on Angrezi Medium?

It’s the same. In Hindi Medium, my entry is after interval and in this its right from the start and to end. There is a different kind of fun in Angrezi Medium.

What was the difference working with Irrfan Khan on Angrezi Medium as he was a bit ill this time?

There ought to be some difference. We had taken good care regarding his health. Our producer Dinesh Vijan, had made sure that we will shoot from 9 to 12 in the morning and after that a break of two hours. If he is ready, he can do it, but there was a break of two hours and we used to shoot after that. This pattern was followed in both Udaipur and London.

Were there any instances on sets where you had to stop the shooting due to his health issues?

No, this never happened. His energy and focus are always on performance. So, he used to forget about his illness and he never let us feel anything like that. No one can say that he is ill by looking at him.

What were the precautions that were taken on the sets?

Precautions were taken regarding each and every single thing on the sets. The only thing he needed was rest and the shoot was all fun and frolic.

Initially, you were seen in less films and this year, your two films are being released back to back. How do you look back at this journey?

I believe God has been kind to me and I feel I am lucky. Before one of my films used to release in two years and now two films are releasing in a year. And many times, my friends say that your battle is with your own self. You will get to see my two different avatars which is a good thing but at the same time I also think that what after that? And I have no projects lined up till one and a half year. Maybe in 2021 I might not have anything. I was thinking that in Jan – Feb one of my films should come and at times its about the timing. And if it was the film of some superstar then the dates get shuffled. That’s fine with me.

Tanu Weds Manu and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, people loved your character a lot. Are there any talks to take the franchise forward?

Talks keep on happening. Many are like let’s make its third part but when there is a proper planning, something will come out of it.

This is your second film with Kareena Kapoor Khan, how was your experience working with him?

It was great. I always say that she is the good luck of our film. And whenever she is in a film, it is bound to be a hit. She has played a very interesting and different kind of role which no one will expect of her to do. She is playing a tough cop in the film and till date people have seen her playing romantic roles but here she is in a different form altogether. That there is a different aspect to Kareena which is beyond her beauty. After Jab We Met, you will see her giving an entirely different performance in Angrezi Medium.

Your dialogues seem very different and unusual. Does writer give you such dialogues or do you tell them on your own?

It is a mix. At times dialogues just come out of my mouth, on the spot and even I am unaware of that fact.

Was there any instance where you wanted to say the dialogue in a certain way but the director wanted something other?

When I was struggling actor, it happened then. But now they say that I have a good sense. The sense depends on the character and the journey he goes through. At times, I did what the director had told and nothing transpired out of it. Then I said that what does this mean? You made me do this and does this justify? I said I was doing the right thing but then you interrupted my flow of dialogue. Having the sense is very important, it is important to be in the journey and that moment and that is when the results are organic.

Every actor faces ups and downs in his career. How do you deal with it when things are not working out for you?

You won’t receive work every time according to your expectations. And now you have to apply double the energy. There were few performances where I even wrote my performance in the form of script. I have filled the gaps and when you get well written roles, your acting gets enhanced too. And I am hoping for that. Initially scripts were only written according to the actor and actress. Now writers like Vijay Raj, Zakir Hussain, Sanjay Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi and me, because of them writer is developing characters because of them. And now the character is being developed from every corner, now the writing has become more nuanced but even then, it will take time.

India is doing great when it comes to web series.

There is hype regarding web series. You just tell me how many actual good web series are being made? Even I will do it.

There are many television and Bollywood actress are switching to web series.

I will do it too but it should have good content. Web series is a different medium and there is a season where now the ball is in your court, you can showcase your acting skills to the fullest and how much can you delve into it. Web series is a great medium as it is being shot on camera which is used in films. If you shoot it with the camera that is used in marriages. That should not happen.

>>> Read more: Angrezi Medium Full Movie Download In HD - The Last Work Of Irrfan Khan